Donegal peace gathering calls on Minster Coughlan to take action.

They came from all ends of county to Donegal town square on Saturday to express their fear of war and hope for peace. As the nation’s attention focused on the protests and actions against the U.S army presence at Shannon airport, the Donegal Anti-War Alliance put their energies into bringing the spirit of peace to the streets.

Banners, paintings and balloons added colour to the vibrant sound of flutes, drums and a fiddle. The Falcarragh contingent brought songs galore while local man Keith Corcoran read his chilling poem From darkness be light. The gathering was circled by up to 50 people at any one time and amongst them were plenty of children who seemed to embody the spirit of the day with their musical shakers and innocent smiles.

The Donegal Anti-War Alliance has had meetings throughout the county for the last month and has sent representatives to the national demonstrations in Shannon and Dublin. The Alliance is growing at a rapid pace as Donegal people take up the growing people’s movement opposed to Bush, Blair - and Hussein.

One Alliance member stated ‘the world knows that this war is economic in nature. It is about oil. It is about a new style colonialism, not human rights. I cannot stand by and listen to the lies of my leaders any longer. I needed to come out here today to express my concerns. This is serious. It affects all of us and it’s time our Texan Taoiseach listened’.

Differing political spectrums were represented as a Labour party banner read ‘Not in my name’ while a Green Party poster stated ‘People and planet before oil and profit’. Kathy Dillon from Ballyshannon said ‘I am not normally interested in politics but how can I choose not to be now? Fianna Fail are following Bush’s mad path to world war three and I cannot allow my children to enter a world like that. I am here today to show my children the positive aspects of life. The sharing, the music and the good craic’. One Englishman agreed ‘I don’t support Blair. Nobody in Britain does. The English government are at it again – invading other countries just like they did here in Ireland. It makes me sad but events like today give me hope. In fact, today is the firest time in weeks I’ve relaxed and laughed’.

The event seemed to have a global flavour as accents from the Netherlands, Germany, Italy and Ghana joined the chorus of voices for peace. Nancy Vario, a tourist from New York, when asked about the allegations that peace supporters were anti-American replied ‘that is ridiculous. I don’t support Bush. Most Americans don’t. The guy wasn’t even properly elected. So does that make me anti-American too?’.

The focal point of the afternoon was a petition requesting that local T.D and Cabinet Minister Mary Coughlan ask her Government colleagues to support a peaceful resolution to the current crisis and to withdraw support for the U.S military at Shannon. The petition was more popular than expected as people queued in the spring sun to put their name to it. By the time the gathering finished the petition had over 200 signatures and it is continuing to do the rounds. Copies are available at the health food shops in Ballyshannon and Donegal Town.

A follow-up event is being planned for next Saturday from 2-4pm and the Alliance is inviting all concerned people to come along, rain or shine, and bring their friends and families and their music, literature, prayers, poems, songs and stories. Women are especially welcome as the event will mark international women’s day and events will be taking place internationally. Those interested in helping organise should call 087 9672549 or check out www.irishantiwar.org and www.indymedia.ie.